Information for Prospective Students

We are a small, academic community with a diverse and creative student body who are aspiring to make a difference in the field of mental health and healing.

Most are attracted to our programs because we believe in an integrative or holistic approach to counseling, art therapy and life in general. SWC offers both clinical training and self-reflective, experiential learning which creates opportunities for students to build confidence and the competence to practice in the field.

Our graduates are employed in 47 states working in hospitals, schools, agencies, recovery centers, private practice and are involved with professional associations at all levels. They hold variety of positions within the Art Therapy and Counseling professions. Check out what they are doing – and how they are changing the world – in our blog series Where Do Southwestern Grads Work?

This page is a hub of information for people curious about our programs and our community. We encourage you to review the information here and in other places on our website. The folks in our Admissions office, Dru Phoenix and Emilah DeToro, are happy to speak with you at any time regarding our Master’s Programs in Counseling and Art Therapy/Counseling. Contact us through our toll free number (877) 471-5756 or email us at info@swc.edu

In addition to the two Master’s Degree programs, Southwestern College also offers six Certificate Programs through the New Earth Institute. These certificate programs allow our students and local professionals to specialize in:

SWC’s Conscious Entrepreneurship Initiative, helps you find purposeful work, whether that’s working for someone else or starting you own practice. We offer coaching and advising on career choice, professional development, and licensing in NM or other states. This initiative also teaches students and alumni the business skills, private practice skills, branding, marketing and social media skills needed to establish yourself in the field.

We have a dedicated space for students and staff to make art; we are committed to the artists within each of us even as we are training Art Therapists and Counselors.

"Southwestern College has been an amazing part of my journey. This education endeavor as an art therapist has been a series of miracles for me. I've seen such a shift in myself. It's been a beautiful experience."

Crystal Hoffman, Graduate 2012

"I'm honored to be applying myself in a clinical environment and my experience at Southwestern enabled me to not only work as an art therapist but to facilitate mindfulness groups. A dream within a dream job I had not even fathomed."

Anna Mills, Graduate 2012

"My experience at Southwestern has been truly transformational. From the lessons learned in Consciousness class to my light figure project and vision quest. The impact on me and on my soul has been absolutely profound."

Stephanie Albury. Graduate 2012

"I'm thankful for everyone at Southwestern College...The deeper sense of myself has been seen, heard, honored and found. I'm so grateful to be able to share it with other people."

Cynthia Alexis, Graduate 2012

"I chose to go back to school for my 50th birthday. Little did I know I would be re-birthed... This is sacred work for me. May the work that we do be of service and benefit to all."

Eliza Buck, Graduate 2012

"This is the place that empowered me to do things the way that I do them, the way I'm good at doing them. I've come to surmise that to be an art therapist; to me means being an artist at therapy so the therapy is the art. The creative engagement with another, with each other, that is the art. "

Renee Borsberry, from Art Therapy Capstone Presentation, Fall 2012.

"The New Earth Institute of Southwestern College offers an array of educational and transformational opportunities to the community. It has been a rich and rewarding experience, enabling the college to grow and expand our mission of transforming consciousness through education. True education engages and awakens all parts of one’s being, allowing for the integration of mind, body and spirit. It cultivates reverence for life and nurtures us in the journey of the soul.”

Katherine Ninos, Vice President

"It has been an extremely amazing journey; the past two years. There has been a lot of pain, a lot of joy and a lot of learning. I think the thing I've learned the most about this experience is trusting the process."

Denise Moore, Graduate 2013

"I feel so much gratitude for being part of this caring, supporting, reflective, soulful community."